Japan expresses interest in AUKUS defense tech partnership
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A spokesperson from Japan's embassy in Australia has conveyed the Japanese government's support for the initiatives undertaken by AUKUS in the Indo-Pacific region.
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US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the Australia - United Kingdom - US (AUKUS) partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, California, US, March 13, 2023. (AP)
Japan has expressed interest in engaging in discussions with the United States, Australia, and Britain regarding collaboration on advanced military technology. This statement from officials on Wednesday suggests that Tokyo is considering a deeper involvement in the significant security partnership known as AUKUS.
A representative from Japan's embassy in Australia said as quoted by AFP that the government is backing AUKUS' initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region and is exploring avenues to enhance collaboration. The official mentioned that Japan is cognizant of ongoing talks among Australia, the UK, and the United States, covering various topics such as Artificial Intelligence and underwater capabilities.
"Japan is interested in the possibility of technical cooperation in the field of advanced capabilities, and so will continue to strengthen cooperation with Australia, the US, and the UK," the embassy said in a statement.
"[Japan] will continue to strengthen cooperation with its important defense and security partners Australia, the US, and the UK to realize a 'free and open Indo-Pacific'," it added.
Dive deeper
Formed in 2021, AUKUS claims that it has two primary objectives: The first, referred to as Pillar I, is dedicated to furnishing Australia with a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines. The second, Pillar II, concentrates on advancing sophisticated warfighting capabilities, encompassing Artificial Intelligence, undersea drones, and hypersonic and electronic warfare technologies.
It is worth noting that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to visit Washington next month, and according to unnamed US officials cited by Japan's Nikkei, there is a possibility of him announcing Japan's participation in the security partnership during the trip.
A briefing from the UK House of Commons, compiled last year, identified New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea as "ideal candidates" for collaboration on Pillar II. In February, Australian officials provided information about the program to their counterparts in New Zealand.
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